The prospects for the 2007 volleyball season for the Lipscomb Lady Bisons are much brighter with the signing of former University of Alabama player Sarah Snider.
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Snider, a former All-Southeastern Conference Freshman team member, will be a junior this fall. Lipscomb coach Brandon Rosenthal announced the transfer of Snider Thursday.

"She is that next level of player that we have been talking about," Rosenthal said. "She brings the experience of playing at a high level. She also is an intense competitor. That is a good combination.

"She is going to be a difference maker on our team and in our conference. She puts us closer to the top teams in the conference."

Snider, an outside hitter, is a native of Oswego, Ill. She made 346 kills for the Crimson Tide in 2005, the third best total on the team. She was second on the team in attack attempts with 1,060 and second in digs with 361.

She also posted 10 double-doubles including 11 kills and 16 digs in an NCAA tournament match against Ohio. Against the University of Georgia she made a career-high 19 kills and 20 digs. She was credited with a career-high 21 digs against Ball State. She also recorded 11 kills and 20 digs against Kentucky. She hit a season-high .412 against Oklahoma.

In 2006 she went to the NCAA Tournament for the second time with the Crimson Tide. She played in 94 games in 28 matches. She recored 43 kills, nine blocks and 73 points.

She was second on the team in service aces with 24, an average of .26 per game. She was fourth in defense with 223 digs, an average of 2.37 per game.

"Her passing and defense are very instinctive," Rosenthal said. "She has a great eye for the game. That is where she excelled in the SEC.

"Offensively, she has a lot of power. She understands the nuances of the game. That's something that is very valuable as a player."

She is the third player to transfer to Lipscomb from an SEC team. Ann Mullins joined the Lady Bisons two years ago out of the University of Tennessee. Ashley Cox joined the Lady Bisons after playing at Auburn.

"We recruited Sarah out of high school,' Rosenthal said. "So I was excited to talk with her again and explain how far our program had come since our initial contact."

"The best thing is she wants to be here. Like Ann and Ashley she has played at a big school. She was looking for something different."

In high school at Oswego High she earned a number of awards. She was a three-time all-region and all-conference team member and was also an all-tournament selection. She was a second-team All-State selection her senior season.

In 2004 she was the team captain and team MVP. She also earned MVP honors that same year in the Suburban Prairie Conference. She was also a first team selection to the Beacon News All-Area Volleyball Team.

In club volleyball she was a member of Club Fusion, the ninth place finisher in the open division at the Junior Nationals.

Snider, a versatile athlete, was lettered in basketball as a sophomore and junior. She was also a two-time all-conference selection and an all-tournament team member.

Snider is the daughter of LuAnn and John Snider. She has an older sister, Annie Cordray.

"Sarah has a great disposition," Rosenthal said. "We're really excited about bringing her experience and her attitude to the team."